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CALL him a Dwight in shining armour or call him a party boy. Or you could call him a winner who could soon be on his way.

Dwight Yorke is some, or perhaps all of these things, and last night he was also a leader and the catalyst of Sydney FC's grinding victory over the Central Coast Mariners in an A-League grand final rich on passion, if not entertainment value.

Just 56 hours after stepping off a plane from London, Yorke shone more vividly than his diamond earring as he shrugged off the lethargy of long-haul travel to set up the game's only goal for Steve Corica and guarantee himself and his teammates a night of festivities at Star City.

Not that Yorke was planning on getting too much shut-eye, declaring afterwards: "We've done the job we had to do. Now let's go and party."

But the party animal could be pitching his marquee elsewhere next season after hinting he might not return to fulfil the second year of his Sydney contract once his World Cup commitments with Trinidad and Tobago are over.

"I have a contract with Sydney which exists now but I'm not sure for how much longer," Yorke said.

"Really, anything could happen between now and next season."

Those words will go down as well as flat champagne with Sydney fans who have grown used to the magician in their midst.

The competition can ill afford to lose him with its kingpin, Football Federation Australia chief executive John O'Neill, declaring: "Dwight Yorke is an ambassador for the A-League in every aspect. He's been just wonderful."

Yorke ignited in the second half at Aussie Stadium to show that even at the age of 35 - he celebrated his birthday on Friday - the legs and lungs are still in harmony and the desire and drive are undimmed.

With the Joe Marston man of the match medal proudly draped around his neck like a huge chunk of bling, Yorke saluted the durability and diligence of his teammates after one of his most influential performances for the club.

"There's been some negativity surrounding the club at times but this shows what we're about," he said.

"This team has a lot of character and I'm proud to be its captain.

"This is a great achievement. People say it's not a big league, but for me, this means a lot."

Yorke acknowledged that he needed to rise from a torpor which gripped the entire team to bring the bling back to Sydney.

"I needed to step up and stamp myself on the game because we were lucky not to be behind at half-time," he said.

"I think I did that and I also think my teammates responded to that. It was never going to be a 3-0 type of game. The Mariners are solid and strong and had their chances. Fortunately, they didn't take them."

Yorke also took a swipe at those who handed Sydney with their "glamour" tag then wrote them off after several lapses during a season of fluctuating fortunes.

"We stayed together in the face of that criticism, we believed in ourselves and we dug in to get ourselves to where we are today," he said.